Political Sociology
Course code
RIT6031.YK
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Poliitika sotsioloogia
Course title in English
Political Sociology
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2025/2026 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
To develop an understanding of the various processes and phenomena in contemporary societies in which politics and society interact and influence each other. Develop analytical skills to analyze empirical examples and problems in the light of the theoretical perspectives learned in the course.
Brief description of the course
Political sociology as a discipline and its development. The nature of political power and the main theories of power. The basic approaches in political sociology: Marxism, elite theories and pluralism. The public sphere and public opinion. Citizenship – its political and sociological content and nature. Political culture and value orientations. Trust in institutions and the crisis of democracy. Political participation and engagement. Participatory, representative and deliberative democracy. The concepts of civil society. Social movements and the main theoretical approaches to them. Political parties and social cleavages shaping contemporary electoral behaviour. Regime transitions and democratization. Identities and politics - nationalism and multiculturalism. Post-modern societies through the theoretical lenses of political sociology. The concept and main approaches to globalization. Manifestations of globalization in contemporary politics and democracy. Today's challenges to democracy from a political sociology perspective.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- knows and understands the main concepts of political sociology;
- knows the main theories and approaches of political sociology;
- is able to apply the theories and concepts learnt in the course to the analysis of the problems and political phenomena in his/her home country;
- can critically compare and evaluate the theories discussed in the course.
- knows and understands the main concepts of political sociology;
- knows the main theories and approaches of political sociology;
- is able to apply the theories and concepts learnt in the course to the analysis of the problems and political phenomena in his/her home country;
- can critically compare and evaluate the theories discussed in the course.
Teacher
Tõnis Saarts
Study programmes containing that course